Don't Be Shy - Know Your Breasts

October 10, 2010

(THANKS TO INDUSLADIES CAMPAIGN AND FURTHER ENCOURAGEMENT BY BLOGADDA THAT I HAVE SHED MY INHIBITIONS AND AM WRITING ABOUT THIS DEADLY DISEASE AFFECTING THE INTIMATE PARTS OF WOMEN, SO OPENLY)



Breasts. 

This word means different to different people. 

Development of breasts in a teen aged girl is the time her mother would get worried about her daughter as to how to educate her about sexual health.

For men, this physiological feature of a woman's body has inspired awe, admiration, desire and lust from time immemorial.  A woman's external beauty, to a large extent is related to her curves.
 
If I say that for a woman, her breasts are mere two bundles of soft tissues which need continuous support, I would be dishonest.  Woman too associate a sense of femininity, beauty, sensuality and pride with her assets! 

An infant instantaneously  knows from where is he going to get the nectar for his life and it's strangely miraculous that a baby just knows to suckle without being trained to

The social conditioning based on the accepted norms of traditional Indian society expects girls to cover their breasts or even the curves as visible from her clothing.  The dupatta, chunni, odhani, stole, whatever you call it, it is a piece of long cloth used to cover one's breasts from the preening eyes of the opposite sex.  The 'Pallu' or "pallav' of the saree also serves the same function covering the curves given by the figure hugging blouse.

The way a dupatta is used to cover the breasts from the eyes of the people around, the same way girls are expected to be ignorant about their own body parts.  Mothers would advise their young daughters not to change clothes in front of a mirror.  The reason behind this thought could be the fact that sight can invoke sensual desire in a person, even if it's one's own body.

Ironically, this thought remains ingrained in the psyche of a woman for a long time and women generally remain unaware of the intimate parts of their body.... Women feel shy of their  own bodies.  They remain strangers to their own physical selves.

That is why it is very important that more and more information is written about and read and used about this deadly silent killer called BREAST CANCER.  And, the important thing about it is that a woman herself needs to examine herself regularly and keep a watch over any symptoms to diagnose it at any early stage.

UNDERSTANDING BREAST CANCER

Dear reader, there is ample information available on the Internet about the disease and I would not like to reproduce it.  However,  I have tried to put things simply, the way you can use it.  

What is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells

The term “breast cancer” refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast. 

Who Are At Risk?

1. Women having family history of the disease.
2. Onset of menstruation before age 12
3. Onset of menopause after age 55
4. Not having children or first child after age 30
5. Less time spent breastfeeding your kids
6. Birth control Pills
7. Hormone replacement therapies


WHAT CAN YOU DO?

First, don't feel shy to know how your breasts look or feel like, because only then will you be able to observe any change in the parts.  Hence a self examination is the first thing you can do. Click here to know how to do self examination. Remember :

a. Do a monthly self examination
b. Get an annual physician check up after 35 years of age
c. Get periodic mammograms done as advised by your gynaecologist. A suggested schedule is:
       *  begin at 35
       *  every year or two from age 40 -49
       *  every year beginning at age 50

Also note that you should get it done during first two weeks of your cycle if you in your menopausal stage. 
  
WHAT SIGNS TO LOOK FOR IN SELF EXAMINATION?

Ladies, do know your body.  Being vigilant is important, as otherwise the disease may creep up without notice and get diagnosed only when painful changes occur.  Look for these signs, if they occur:

* swelling of all or part of the breast
* skin irritation or dimpling
* breast pain
* nipple pain or the nipple turning inward
* redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
* a nipple discharge other than breast milk
* a lump in the underarm area


Dear reader, if you have been diagnosed for this disease, please see this link:



WHAT CAN WE DO TO AVOID BREAST OR ANY CANCER?

Maintaining a healthy life style is a prerequisite to remain healthy in today's time.  The basic fundas of eating right, good sleep, exercising and avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol works here too. 

WHAT KIND OF FOOD MAY HELP US?

I dug out the old issues of my favorite health magazine "Prevention" looking for some information. And I understand that although, there is no cure for the disease, but anti oxidants in food helps our body against cancer.  So why should we not include them in our diet and of our family members?  Here are a few foods which have anti oxidants:

1. Turmeric - Used in every dish in Indian food, but make sure you are using a trusted brand, as there can be easy adulteration.

2. Mushroom - We love this fungi! It beefs up body defenses, suppresses breast and prostate cancer. Suggested recipes - Make sandwich filling with sautéed mushroom ; make regular mushroom pea curry ; add them well chopped in soups, they taste great! (Remember to blanch the washed mushroom before cooking)

3. Papaya - Protects against lung, stomach, prostate cancer.  Also is great for digestion.

4. Green Tea - It is not really popular and is a bit expensive than the regular tea we have, but try to include it in your food plan at lest 1-2 times in a week.

5. Pomegranate - Helps kill breast and prostate cancer cells.  The fruit can be added to custard, cream etc and can be squeezed to have as juice too. 


NEXT TIME YOU KNOW WHAT TO GIFT YOUR MOM?

I know it is not going to sound too good to your ears, but next time you think of giving a gift to your mom or an elder aunt, gift her a MAMMOGRAM (The test to detect breast cancer).  We, the younger lot still are very aware and take care of our health, but women generally had given their health the last priority in our society, so it's time YOU educate your family or relatives or friends and give the gift which should bring mental peace to the person and an awareness in this direction.   

Lastly, Dear reader, do spread the word, take the Indusladies quiz to know more.  If you like this post, please vote to it on Indivine and spread the word. do leave a word with Blogadda about post, if you like it.



 RESTLESS 

Image courtesy : www.indiepoprock.net and sareetimes.com

23 comments:

Nandhini` said...

This is an excellent awareness post. Appreciate your open unbiased writing. Please check under 'who are at risk', the 4th point should 'after' 30 or 'before' 30.

Good wishes!
Nandhini

Reema said...

wonderful and a very informative post! kudos to u for writing on this topic

A Restless Mind With A Sensitive Heart! said...

Nandhini, welcome! Thank u so much!
It is 'after' 30, I checked it. thanks for pointing out.

Reema, oh dear.. thanks a ton!

RESTLESS

varsha said...

a timely post!
Great to have you writing this.

Niket said...

Restless, breast cancer is one of those diseases which is being neglected not only by the illiterate women but also by the educated lot!
This post of yours would surely help spread awareness about the most neglected & untalked femininity-related issue of Breast Cancer.
Here I would also like to suggest & appeal every women out there to undergo such tests and also make the uneducated women like your maids, cook, et cetera aware of such critical issues.

Unknown said...

Sensitive heart lovely post, very informative and very concise. I Brave topic too I would say. Wish u the very best.

NeoTheHack said...

It's a good effort on your part to spread this awareness. It should go a long way to enlighten people about the same.

A Restless Mind With A Sensitive Heart! said...

Varsha - thanks

Niket - very well said dear!

Pooja - very few ppl call with with this name :) thanks, glad u like the post.

Neo - Won't add anything to this? :)

RESTLESS

NeoTheHack said...

well..not much i can say on this... thats why....

Vee said...

Yay! You are on blogadda now. Way to go? As part of breast cancer awareness, I thought of posting the image of this t-shirt i came across. Very smart way of spreading the message :D

A Restless Mind With A Sensitive Heart! said...

Neo - okay, alright :)

Vee - Hey! Thanks Vee! Am so happy!

I saw the T-shirt.. I think it's more naughty than anything else :D But very unique. put it as a post and may be u don't have to write anything then , ppl would be writing comments :D

btw, thanks being for ur blogger pal! tells a lot about u.

RESTLESS

A Restless Mind With A Sensitive Heart! said...

Vee, I mean being happy for ur blogger pal :)

Corinne Rodrigues said...

Thanks for stopping by on my blog. This is a great post - very informative.

A Restless Mind With A Sensitive Heart! said...

Corinne - Welcome! Thanks!

Dear Readers, my post has been selected as Blogadda Tangy Tuesday Pick, am not able to put up the pic, right now.

Thanks!

RESTLESS

NeoTheHack said...

Congrats. Hats off to you.

Asmi Easwar said...

Congrats on your achievement. May more laurels come your way

A Restless Mind With A Sensitive Heart! said...

Neo - really appreciate how you can be a critic with so many words to express your view point and then say 'Hats off to you' to a co blogger. Am thankful to you!

Asmi - Thanks a ton dear! ur words mean a lot to me :)

RESTLESS

Anonymous said...

Hats off to you was for your achivement. As also to the spunk within you in spreading the awareness and is indeed a noble cause.

The issue that you have highlighted, i feel is not just an illness of the body. It is an illness of the mind too, as it affects a woman psycologically. May be that was the point you were making by the introduction that you had given.

I criticise where i feel there is a need to criticise. It may be post specific, or issue specific. So dont see me as a 'Incessant Critic' ;-) I am indeed a good critic ;-)

A Restless Mind With A Sensitive Heart! said...

Yes Neo I got what u congratulated me for :)

of course u r a great critic! I value ur comments.

RESTLESS

Vee said...

thanks to you too! :)

Anonymous said...

'Tangy' is quite a surprising tag that this post got.

A Restless Mind With A Sensitive Heart! said...

Vee - ur always welcome :)

Neo - Actually, Blogadda has these 2 fixed tags - tangy and spicy for posts of interest. It's just a coincidence, that they are giving out these tags to this awareness campaign posts, this month.

RESTLESS

Megha Sarin said...

Good Work. Someone creates awareness on such crucial and sensitive topics. 

http://www.meghasarin.blogspot.com

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